Railway signal-torpedo



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

1 APPLICATION 111mm. 2. 1-921.

Patented July 19, 1921.

UNITED STATES FRANK BUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAIL- NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

Application filed February 2, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK Dn'rormn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county ofAllegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Rail-x way Signal-Torpedoes, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, andmore particularly to a torpedo having an explosive case made by foldinga sheet around the'explosive charge.

Theobject of my present invention is to provide an improved manner ofholding the final folds of the sheet and a rail-engaging strap to thecase, whereby the usual metal clip for that purpose is omitted.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a torpedo. which ischeap and simple of manufacture and will prevent damage and injurycaused by flying fragments of metal when the charge is exploded.

Other objects and improvements will appear in the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention, theside of the case carrying the rail strap being shown.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, with the exception thatthe rail strap has not been completely fastened to the case at one endthereof and the manner of securing the strap to the case is more clearlyshown.

Fig. 4 is an exaggerated vertical sectional view, taken longitudinally,of a torpedo embodying'my invention.

Fig. 5 is an exaggerated vertical sectlonal view, taken transversely, ofa torpedo embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated bysimilar reference characters, 1 designates an explosive charge which iswrapped within a sheet 2, the sheet making several folds around theexplosive, as at 3, thus forming a case therefor. This sheet or case 2has a surface greater in area than the area of a longitudinal section ofthe explosive and has ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921. Serial No. 441,716.

tending portions 4 and 5, which are folded inward upon the case andoverlap, as at 6.

To provlde a means for attaching the torpedo to a rail-head or the like,I have a strap or rail attaching member 7. This strap, as here shown andin the preferred form, is made of lead, but it will be readilyunderstood that the same could be made of any suitable pliable or lightspring material wlthout departing from the spiritof my invention.

Thos skilled in the art are well aware that the rail-engaging membermust be rehably fastened to the torpedo so that when the torpedo isplaced on a rail for use and struck by a moving wheel, the torpedo willnot be separated from the raiLengaging member and knocked from the railwithout having been exploded.

In my improved torpedo, I have attached the rail straps to the case inthe following manner.

Two cords or strings 8 and 9 are provided. The rail strap is placed uponthe case 2, across the folded lapped ends 4 and 5, as shown, and one ofthe cords is passed around the strap, as shown at 10 in Fig. 3. The cordis then slid inwardly upon the strap until it is upon the case 2, at apoint about midway of one of the folded extended portions of the case.The ends of the cord are then passed in opposite directions, makingseveral wraps of the cord around the case and strap. The ends of thecord are then brought to gether and fastened or tied as at 11.

It will be readily understood that the other cord is applied in likemanner, fastening the rail-strap at the opposite end of the case. I

In practice the folded portions t and 5 are cemented in place, but, ifdesired, this step can be done away with as the cords 8 and 9 not onlyfasten the rail strap to the case, but also bind the folded portions inproper positions.

Attention is directed to the fact that the folded portions 4 and 5overlap, as at 6. As the rail strap is carried upon these foldedportions, the strap has a bend therein, as at 12, where it passes over6. This bend, together with the previously explained manner of passingthe cord around the strap, (shown at 10) prevents lateral and endwisemovement or play of the rail strap upon the case, thereby holding thestrap in its proper position on the case.

' My in'iprovement does away with the necessity of using a plate or thelike, for attaching the rail strap to the torpedo ease. lhis is a greatadvantage, because the danger of dan'lage or injury by flying particlesof metal when the torpedo is exploded is greatly lessened.

if desired, the torpedo can be given a water-proof bath or coating toprevent dampness getting to the explosive charge which would prevent itsexplosion when struck.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A railway signal torpedo having a case, arail-engaging member carried upon one side of the case, and stringswrapped first around the rail-engaging member and then around the caseat opposite ends thereof and binding the rail-engaging member to thecase.

2. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a sheet wrapped around anexplosive charge to make a case therefor, the case having extended endsfolded inward to overlap upon the case, a rail-engaging member upon thefolded portions of the case, and strings wrapped around the case andrail-engaging member at opposite ends of the ease to bind the foldedportions and the rail-engaging member in place.

A railway signal torpedo, comprising a case formed of a sheet wrappedaround an explosive charge forming extended folded portions at oppositeends of the charge, the folded portions folded inward upon the case andoverlapping, a rail-engaging member carried upon the overlapped foldedportions and bent at a point adjacent the lapped point of the foldedportions, and strings at opposite ends of the case binding the foldedportions and the rail-engaging member in place.

4;. A. railway signal torpedo, of a rectangular shape, comprising a casehaving extended inwardly folded end portions, the end portionsoverlapped upon the case, a rail-engaging member carried upon the foldedportions and bent at a point adjacent the lap of the folded portions,strings passed around the rail-engaging member at points adjacent theends of the torpedo case, and

the strings wrapped. around the case, railengaging member, and foldedend portions to hold the parts in place.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK DU TCHER.

